By, John Kabambala - Partner of UN News Kiswahili
"I was forbidden even to approach the mining pit, and now I own a license for 24 acres of mining operations and have employed more than 40 people this is the victory of daring to take a risk." Theresia Ndalo from Geita, said And "The water keeps advancing and erasing our land, weakening and sweeping away our crops, this situation creates a gap through which hunger peers into our families." Rosa Malongo from Mwanza Region, said.
In Geita,
Theresia Ndalo, aged 56, was once told that a woman is a burden at the mine a
worthless load, a nuisance unworthy of approaching the gold pit. Today, she
owns a license for 24 acres of mining operations, has employed more than 40
people, and is putting her children through school. She says, "Gold does
not discriminate by gender; it only requires your courage." And in
Ukerewe, Mwanza Region, Rosa Malongo, a mother of 40 years, farms in fear every
day not of pests or drought, but of the water that comes silently to devour the
land from under her hands. She says, "The water keeps advancing and
erasing our land, weakening and sweeping away our crops; this situation creates
a gap through which hunger peers into our families. Without a lasting solution,
I watch my life being swallowed by the water."
The
stories of Theresia and Rosa are not imagined, nor are they the only ones in
this beloved nation of Tanzania. They represent thousands of women living at
the crossroads of hope and despair, innovation and obstacles, triumph and loss.
These are painful narratives that afflict many women across Tanzania and
throughout the African continent stories of those whose voices remain unknown,
unheard, and unreachable at the decision-making tables. In Geita, Mwanza,
Kagera, Morogoro, and every corner of this country, women are struggling
against land that denies them their rights and against a climate that
overwhelms them. Some succeed, like Theresia; others falter, like Rosa. But
what they all share is one truth: they will not be known if we do not give them
the space to speak, and they will not reach the decision-making table if we do
not carry them to where they deserve to be. Now is the time to stand with them,
to listen to their stories, and to ensure that their voices are no longer
voices from the margins, but rather the voices that guide the pen as we write
land policies and climate change strategies for the achievement of the Nation's
Vision 2050.
Now, as
the nation prepares to implement Vision 2050 and the third Nationally
Determined Contributions (NDC 3), a critical question emerges: who will
carry the voices of these rural women to the decision-making table? Because
without their voices, there can be no just land policy, no inclusive climate
strategy, and no fully realized Vision 2050, This is the story of their
struggle, their resilience, and their call to the nation.
A
Call for Inclusive Climate Action
The guest
of honor at the meeting to present the study's findings, Evansia Shirima,
Senior Environmental Officer and Gender Desk Coordinator from the Office of the
Vice President, opened the session with a call to rethink how the nation
addresses women's land rights. She emphasized that the study aimed to
understand land tenure rights and climate change at the community level,
ensuring that the voices of marginalized groups, particularly indigenous
communities and rural women, are heard in the third national process for
addressing climate change (NDC 3). She noted that unlike the second NDC, where
gender issues were not extensively highlighted, NDC 3 gives significant space
to gender, youth, and children because they are the most affected by climate
change and therefore should benefit from climate adaptation funds.
Evansia
Shirima further stressed that access to land rights will remain a crucial
pillar in climate change efforts. She pledged that the Office of the Vice
President will continue collaborating with non-governmental organizations to
provide education on land rights and gender for women, youth, and children.
This is a critical step because the study showed that many women are unaware of
their legal rights to own land, and even those who know face cultural and
systemic barriers that prevent them from accessing these rights. This education
will help women understand the legal procedures for obtaining land ownership
and defending themselves when their rights are violated.
Partnerships
That Amplify Voices
Maria Matui, Director of WATED and moderator of the presentation session, emphasized the importance of collaboration among civil society organizations in collecting firsthand testimonies from women living in difficult conditions. She stated that the study conducted by the three organizations across 13 regions and Women Reached Between 150 and 200 aimed to ensure that the voices of rural women, community groups, and small-scale producers are heard in national NDC processes. She noted that the study findings clearly show how women contribute to leading climate action, yet they still face structural barriers such as lack of land rights and poor access to climate finance, which prevent them from expanding their efforts to cope with the impacts of climate change.
Maria
Matui urged meeting participants to listen carefully to the testimonies given
by women living in communities, as they possess deep understanding of the
challenges and community-based solutions regarding land and climate change
issues. She explained that the session aimed to bring these voices to the
national level and promote the integration of their recommendations into
national policies and strategies. This signals a shift from a top-down approach
to policy formulation, instead placing women at the center of creating policies
that directly affect them an essential step toward achieving Vision 2050, which
aspires to equality and justice for all.
Empowering Women Through Legal Education
"In Longido District, Mundarara Village, Tree of Hope conducted training for women on land policy and climate change, and the results were remarkable," said Aghata Ungani, Project Officer for the organization. Women who were accustomed to staying in the background and letting men make decisions about land use discovered that they too have the legal right to own land without discrimination. This was a new concept for them, as their customs and traditions had taught them that land belongs to men and women are merely visitors. This training gave them the courage to begin questioning and demanding their rights, freeing them from the fear of confronting the deeply rooted patriarchal systems in their communities.
The women
of Mundarara also learned about the relationship between land use and climate
change, which was new to them. They understood that improper land use, such as
indiscriminate bush burning and unsustainable farming, contributes to the
intensification of climate change impacts like drought and extreme heat. They
also learned the importance of environmental conservation through tree planting
and protecting water sources not only for the environment but also to maintain
soil fertility and sustain their livelihoods. This was a crucial step for them
in understanding that environmental protection is part of protecting their land
and their overall well-being.
Transforming
Understanding of Land Rights
Aghata
Ungani further explained that in Ulanga District, Mahenge Ward, the training
provided by Tree of Hope brought new understanding to women facing land
ownership challenges. For the first time, these women learned the complete
legal procedure for obtaining legitimate land ownership, which they had
previously assumed was difficult and costly. They discovered that land rights
are not granted solely at the discretion of traditional leaders, but that
national laws exist to protect their rights. This understanding gave them
intellectual liberation and placed them in a strong position to claim their
rights and protect themselves from any form of exploitation that might occur
when they are unaware of the laws that safeguard them.
Additionally,
the women of Mahenge gained in-depth knowledge about how climate change affects
their food production. They recognized that changes in rainfall and weather
patterns reduce their harvests and increase the risk of hunger in their
families. To cope with this, they learned soil and water conservation
techniques such as terracing, tree planting, and efficient water use simple and
affordable methods. They were also encouraged to form women's groups for
resource management, enabling them to have a collective voice on land and
development issues, thus gaining greater power to influence decisions affecting
them at the family, village, and even ward levels.
The
training also introduced the women of Mahenge to NDC 3, the national plan for
mitigating climate change impacts, and their role in its implementation. They
were informed that they can participate through simple actions such as planting
and caring for trees, protecting water sources, using better farming methods,
and avoiding environmental destruction like indiscriminate tree cutting. This
gave them a sense of their importance in national climate efforts and dispelled
the notion that they are merely victims without any contribution. Instead, they
saw themselves as key partners in protecting national resources and ensuring
sustainable livelihoods for future generations a realization that has built
their confidence and motivated them to continue their efforts in sustainable
farming and environmental conservation.
Women
as Economic Pillars
On behalf
of WAEHEAL, Glory Mlaki stated that their study, conducted in collaboration
with organizations such as WOMEDA, Sauti ya Mwanamke Ukerewe, and the Geita
Women Miners Association (GEWOMA), was a journey of listening to the voices of
women on the margins. She emphasized that justice for rural women in Tanzania
is not merely a legal concept written on paper, it is security over the land
they farm in Karagwe, security over the mine where they work in Geita, and
protection over the shoreline where they fish in Ukerewe. These women, Mlaki
stressed, are the backbone of the nation's economy, yet they remain at a
crossroads of land insecurity and the impacts of climate change affecting the
country.
In
Karagwe, women farmers and livestock keepers face the major challenge of
declining soil fertility due to climate change impacts. Instead of giving up,
they have begun using drought-resistant seeds and new climate-smart farming
techniques, including the use of manure to restore soil health rather than
relying on expensive industrial fertilizers. This innovation demonstrates how
women are utilizing their traditional knowledge and combining it with modern
methods to ensure food security in their households, despite the significant
challenges they face, including the lack of formal ownership of the land they
cultivate.
Breaking
Barriers in Male-Dominated Sectors
In Geita,
although the mining sector is dominated by men, women are beginning to carve
out important roles in small-scale mining, particularly in providing financial
support and ore sorting. Some have even succeeded in obtaining mining licenses something
that was rare just a few years ago. However, these women still face policy and
customary challenges within their communities, including lack of security over
the land where they mine and insufficient capital to develop their operations.
They also face discrimination from men who still view the mining sector as
their exclusive domain, which results in their exclusion from important
decisions regarding mining and management of mineral resources.
Meeting
participants were eager to hear about conditions on Ukerewe Island, where women
face the challenge of rising water levels that destroy farms and reduce land
available for cultivation. This challenge has forced women to find alternative
sources of income, including owning fishing vessels and processing fish and
other lake products. Their innovation has borne fruit, yet they still face
legal confusion regarding the 60-meter water protection zone, where their daily
livelihoods often conflict with government conservation laws. This places them
at risk of eviction and losing their homes and economic activities, further
increasing hardship and poverty for their families.
A
Living Example: Hamasisha Group Migoli
To capture
the diversity of women's voices from different areas, I take you to Iringa
Region, where we meet the members of Hamasisha Group in Migoli Ward a journey
of about 70 kilometers, roughly one and a half to two hours by regular vehicle.
This group, formed by women from the Maasai pastoralist community, provides a
real-life example of the power of education in empowering women to cope with
climate change and fight for their rights. The group was established in 2023
with the goal of growing sunflowers using organic manure and protecting
indigenous trees for medicinal purposes. They were hit by the challenge of
drought, which forced them to adapt their methods. After receiving training
from WATED in 2024 and 2025 on women's land rights and climate change, the
group has transformed into a vehicle for educating the entire community about
women's rights and how to cope with climate change.
Nepaya
Mayombe, the group's chairperson, testifies to how the education they received
has changed them, making them advocates for the rights of women and girls in
their area. Today, they provide education in schools about combating
gender-based violence and how to cope with climate change, and they also offer
healing services using medicinal plants from their farms. This shows that when
women are given education and leadership opportunities, they become frontline
defenders of others' rights and work to ensure their communities build
resilience against climate change impacts. They have become a living example of
how empowering women can bring positive change to entire communities.
Structural
Barriers and the Limits of Resilience
Despite
this remarkable resilience, researchers emphasize that women's resilience has
its limits. Rising input costs, such as fertilizer, make women increasingly
dependent on financial systems that burden them, eroding their economic
independence. Furthermore, many women remain unaware of their legal rights
under the National Land Policy of 2023, which prevents them from defending
themselves when they are dispossessed of land or evicted. Without this
knowledge, they remain at risk of being denied their fundamental rights and
continue to be marginalized in development, despite their significant efforts
to improve their economic standing and ensure their families' survival.
To close
this wide gap between policy and its actual implementation, experts recommend
strengthening conflict resolution mechanisms at the village and ward levels.
These councils are the first line of defense for women facing land disputes,
yet they often lack sufficient financial and human resources, and their leaders
lack adequate understanding of national land laws. There is also a need to
translate the National Land Policy of 2023 into clear Swahili and disseminate
it to the lowest levels of the community, so that every woman, even those who
cannot read, can hear and understand her rights in a simple and accessible
manner. Targeted and accessible legal education is the only weapon to protect
women from exploitation and enable them to claim their rights when denied.
Economic
Empowerment and Traditional Knowledge
Measures
to give women economic power are also essential in ensuring they become active
participants in the national economy. Establishing microcredit with favorable
terms for women engaged in fishing, mining, and agriculture, along with
providing business and entrepreneurship training, will help them strengthen
their productive activities and achieve economic self-reliance. It is also
important to integrate traditional conservation and farming methods with modern
climate-friendly techniques, such as composting, using clean energy, and crop
rotation, to reduce financial risks and ensure the sustainability of their
productive activities in coping with climate change impacts.
The study
also identified the need for ongoing dialogue between community leaders and
legal experts to fully implement inheritance and land ownership rights for
women. There is also a need to establish inclusive committees to oversee
conservation areas while protecting the traditional livelihoods of communities
surrounding those areas. These steps will help reduce land conflicts and ensure
that women are included in all decisions concerning the use and management of
land and water resources in their areas. This inclusion is vital to ensure that
national policies align with the real needs of women and rural communities as a
whole.
The voices from WAJIRU Group in Ruvuma
Let us now turn to the southern part of Tanzania, to the Ruvuma Region, to uncover its reality and listen to what lies at the heart of the cry of rural women there. Here we encounter the group known as "Women and Efforts Against Poverty in Ruvuma" (WAJIRU), who, through their collaboration with WATED in research and training, have identified the challenges facing women in this area. Priscilla G. Luambano, Director of the group, explains that their study revealed that many women in this region are severely affected by poverty as they attempt to cope with climate change. This situation has made it difficult for them to use clean energy such as alternative charcoal; instead, most rely on firewood and conventional charcoal, which are environmentally unfriendly, contributing to the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) that damages the ozone layer. Furthermore, the group discovered that many women lack adequate understanding of improved farming practices, particularly regarding maize cultivation. Instead of using modern, drought-resistant seeds, most rely on traditional seeds, which have now become a major challenge due to changing rainfall patterns and decreasing precipitation. Additionally, there is limited awareness regarding land ownership rights for women, as many are unfamiliar with the laws and their legal entitlements to own land.
Despite these challenges, the WAJIRU group has achieved significant success in empowering rural women in Ruvuma. Through their partnership with WATED, they have been able to provide education to women on the meaning of climate change, its indicators, and how to cope with its effects. This training has included improved farming techniques and the use of high-quality, short-cycle seeds for maize cultivation, along with advice on growing short-cycle crops such as vegetables, which have helped women improve their economic standing through small-scale entrepreneurship. They have also succeeded in providing education on Land Ownership Policy, and to date, some women have begun to gain awareness and understand their rights to land ownership. In their recommendations, the WAJIRU group emphasizes the need for continued training, particularly on climate change and the use of clean energy (alternative charcoal), as well as economic empowerment to enable women and girls to become self-reliant and properly support their families, given that in Ruvuma Region there are many women who raise families on their own. Priscilla G. Luambano stresses that this empowerment will not only strengthen them economically but will also give them a voice to participate in decisions that affect their lives and the future of their communities.
Including
Women and Girls with Disabilities in All Land and Climate Strategies
In all
efforts to ensure that the voices of rural women are heard in the third
national climate change process (NDC 3), it is crucial to acknowledge that
women with disabilities, girls, and children with disabilities are the most
affected yet the least heard in all the strategies mentioned. The study
conducted by Tree Hope Tanzania, WATED, and WAEHEAL across 13 regions, together
with testimonies from Hamasisha Group Migoli, shows that the structural
barriers facing women in general are doubled for women with disabilities, who
face lack of land ownership rights, poor access to climate finance, and
exclusion from governance and decisions concerning resources. The Office of the
Vice President through the gender desk has emphasized that gender equality is a
key pillar, but this equality cannot be achieved if we do not consider the
intersection of gender and disability. Women with disabilities in rural areas
like Karagwe, Geita, and Ukerewe face double challenges: first, they fight for
their land rights within patriarchal systems, second, they struggle against
stigma and physical and environmental barriers that prevent them from accessing
legal services, microcredit, and business training offered to other women.
The
training provided by Tree of Hope in Longido and Mahenge demonstrated that
legal education designed for women in general, without considering persons with
disabilities, leaves behind a large group of women who need specialized tools
such as sign language, Braille materials, or simple communication methods.
Therefore, in all national land and climate change strategies, there must be
specific mechanisms to reach women, girls, and children with disabilities,
ensuring they receive education about the National Land Policy of 2023 in
languages and formats they understand, that they participate in village and
ward councils, and that they have equal access to climate finance and
microcredit to develop their farming, fishing, and small-scale mining
activities. As emphasized by Glory Mlaki of WAEHEAL, "inclusive
governance" is not just an invitation to attend a meeting; it is ensuring
that every woman, regardless of her disability, can achieve security over the
land she farms, security over the mine where she works, and protection over the
shoreline where she fishes, and that her voice guides the pen as we write our
national plans. By leaving behind women with disabilities, we leave the entire
house of development with cracks, and we cannot achieve Vision 2050, which
aspires to equality and justice for all.
A Call for
Inclusive Governance
All these
efforts and the evidence gathered from 13 regions of Tanzania clearly show that
inclusive governance and leadership that prioritizes gender equality are not
only a matter of human rights but also a fundamental foundation for sustainable
national development. When a woman is given the right to own land and other
productive resources, the entire family benefits, children receive better
education and nutrition, and the whole community progresses toward development.
Now is the time to ensure that the voices of rural women who are the backbone
of the economy and the frontline defenders of the environment lead the way in
writing national policies and strategies for development and climate action.
This is the only path to achieving Vision 2050, which envisions equality,
justice, and inclusive development for every Tanzanian, especially women and
girls who have long remained on the sidelines at national and international
decision-making tables.
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